March 23, 2005
Hancock CollegeThis is such a gorgeous time of year here in our wine country, especially after the rains. I really look forward to driving Highway 135, with new bud break on the vines and the splendorous green hills.
Knowing Merilark Padgett-Johnson at Allan Hancock and having taken Norman Yost’s two wine classes at the college, I am more impressed with the school’s viticulture and winemaking program than ever. It is a real resource and I am impressed with the number of students from south county who sign up for classes and make the trek up here to take some of the courses!
And now Hancock is offering a number of new fast track courses.
Wine lovers unite! Now is your chance to learn more about growing wine grapes and tasting great wines in four Fast Track classes offered by Allan Hancock College starting as early as April 1. These two-, three- and four-day classes are in addition to 16 other viticulture/enology courses that began earlier in the spring semester.
Enjoy tasting the finished product at one of Allan Hancock College's popular pairing wine and food classes. Taught by local winemaker and artist, Ardison Phillips, these half-unit classes involve students in evaluating a variety of wines, developing recipes and menus based on those wines, and cooking and tasting their culinary creations. Two classes are offered in April at the Vocational Training Center Kitchen, 2445 A Street, in Santa Maria. The enrollment fee is $13 for each class.
Pairing Wines and Foods of Provence (AGBUS 305, ticket #6525) meets Friday, April 1, from 5:30 to 9:20 p.m.; Saturday, April 2, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:50 p.m.; and Sunday, April 3, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. The class will introduce students to distinctive foods and wines of this bountiful region in southern France.
Pairing Wines and Foods of Tuscany (AGBUS 306, ticket #6584) meets Friday, April 15, from 5:30 to 9:20 p.m.; Saturday, April 16, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:50 p.m.; and Sunday, April 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. This class presents foods and wines that reflect this distinctive region of northern Italy.
Offered at the Santa Maria campus, Grapevine Physiology (AGBUS 135, ticket #6596), meets Mondays and Wednesdays, April 4, 6, 11 and 13, from 2:30-6:20 p.m. in room M-10. This one-unit class offers an advanced study of grapevine physiology and phenology. Topics include vine balance, flowering and fruit set, stages of berry growth and vine water status. The course is designed for those working in the wine grape industry and already familiar with vineyard operations. The enrollment fee is $26.
Also offered at the Santa Maria campus is Small Acre Grape Growing (AGBUS 199, tkt #6524), which meets Saturdays, May 7 and 14, from 8 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. in room M-11. The one-unit class offers instruction in how to establish and maintain a small vineyard, including site selection, variety, rootstock, vineyard layout, irrigation, trellising, planting and pest control. The enrollment fee is $26.
Currently under way are mail-in and walk-through registration for these and all other Fast Track/Term 4 classes. Mail-in registration ends March 23; walk-through registration continues through April 1 at all college locations during regular office hours
For more registration information, call (805) 922-6966 or toll free 1-866-DIAL AHC (342-5242) ext. 3248. For more information about the college's viticulture and enology program, contact program coordinator Merilark Padgett-Johnson, Ph.D., at ext. 3760 or mpadgett@hancockcollege.edu
Times wine columnist, Bob Senn, lives in the Los Alamos Valley and owns the Los Olivos Wine & Spirits Emporium.
